Red hot Raheem Sterling hit his 50th Premier League goal before helping to set up Bernardo Silva for City’s second. Kevin de Bruyne, Leroy Sane and Gabriel Jesus were all left out of the starting line-up along with captain Vincent Kompany.

Guardiola said: “It's a good message, especially for ourselves. Coming here for the first game when we were the team and club with the most players at the World Cup. That is a good sign for us.

“It’s just the first Premier League game. The first one. Winter time is coming. A lot of things happen. Injuries. There is a long road to go.

“The players have to focus on what they know they can do. Don't forget what we are: a strong team, if that is what we have to do. Then we will see.”

Manchester City cruised past Arsenal without many of their big hitters (Image: AFP)

No team has managed a successful defence of the Premier League title since Manchester United in 2009. Guardiola believes winning without so many of his key men will give his side the belief to buck the trend this season.

He added: “It's the only way to be consistent. The only way the players have to know that his team-mates are there to play.”

Sterling was playing in his first game since being criticised for his performances at the World Cup. Guardiola said: “You judge the players in the World Cup on whether they score a goal or not.

Pep Guardiola insisted his Manchester City side sent out a title message (Image: Man City via Getty)

“Raheem had this special relationship with English football! But he's so loved in [our] locker room. “He did some very good things in the World Cup, moving space and creating for others. He'd have liked to have scored a goal and tried, but I'm sure in the European qualifiers he will score goals for his country, England.”

Sterling has only two years left on his contract and has yet to agree a new deal with the club. Guardiola added: “We are delighted with him and would like Raheem to stay.

“We'll do our best to make him feel we count on him. And we do count on him. We arrived after a difficult season and I told him I want to help him and would like him to be happy.

“But, in the end, the agents may not have agreements and that may not happen. But he knows and his agent knows we like him and want him a lot.”

Arsenal were well beaten by the defending champions (Image: REUTERS)

Arsenal, playing their first competitive game without Arsene Wenger since 1996, were well beaten by the defending champions.

Boss Unai Emery admitted the defeat proved just how far behind the champions the Gunners had fallen.

“Yes, but we know.” he said. “We know this way is starting and we need also to go in one way. Today is the first step on that process.

“Manchester City have been working for three years with Guardiola. They are building one team with security, good players, with a very great stability playing the way they want. And we are just starting.”